How long before Pacquiao got over loss to Bradley?

ABS-CBN News

Many boxing fans were aghast when Filipino idol Manny Pacquiao controversially lost to unbeaten American Timothy Bradley in June 2012, but the "Pacman" got over his defeat surprisingly quickly.

"In the first fight against Tim Bradley, I was over it before I returned to the dressing room," Pacquiao told RingTV.com.

Most boxing analysts and fans believed Pacquiao had dominated Bradley when they first fought two years ago, but the American was awarded a split decision that quickly became one of the most unpopular in the history of the sport.

"To (trainer) Freddie Roach and me, and apparently everyone else who watched the fight – except for two – I won the fight,"” said Pacquiao.

But Pacquiao has never blamed the judges, and until now refuses to speak ill of them.

"Judges are human," he said, "You cannot expect them to be perfect."

Of the loss, Pacquiao said: "That is boxing. It is part of the game, and you cannot let yourself get too upset over it, or else, it will consume you."

The Filipino said he and Roach never considered the loss to be a true blemish on his record.

"We never discussed or debated the decision, because it was so obvious that I had won the fight and nearly every round," said Pacquiao. "It never felt like a loss to me, and no one treated me any differently."

"I was treated as the winner," he pointed out.

Indeed, it was Bradley who was pilloried by boxing fans in the aftermath of the fight; the American boxer has said that he received death threats in the months following his victory.

Even if he does not consider it an official loss, Pacquiao will get the chance to avenge the setback when he challenges Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas.

At stake in the rematch is the WBO welterweight belt that Bradley won off the "Pacman."